It will be the first time in 20 years that Maine Democrats and Republicans will vote in a presidential primary instead of a caucus, called Super Tuesday. Twelve candidates will appear on the Democratic ballot, including several who have already ended their campaigns. At polling places on election day, the names of those who have withdrawn from the election will be posted, and votes for them will be counted as blanks. On the Republican ballot, President Trump is the only candidate. 

In a public hearing on Wednesday, February 19, 2020, the Joint Standing Committee on Labor and Housing held a public hearing on LD 2087, An Act Relating to Fair Chance in Employment,” sponsored by Rep. Rachel Talbot Ross (D-Portland). More than a dozen states have enacted similar laws – the purpose of which is to encourage the hiring of people with a criminal record. Rep. Talbot Ross has had similar, but more disconcerting proposals in past sessions. This year, she took a more pragmatic approach, limiting her bill just to prohibiting employers from asking about a prospective employee’s previous criminal convictions on any written or electronic job application.

On Wednesday, February 19, the Taxation committee voted along party lines (7-4) “ought to pass as amended” on LD 403, An Act to Prevent Tax Haven Abuse, sponsored by the committee cochair, Rep. Ryan Tipping (D-Orono). In addition to Rep. Tipping, committee cochair Sen. Benjamin Chipman (D-Cumberland), and Rep. Ann Matlack (D-St. George), Rep. Diane Denk (D-Kennebunk), Rep. Stephen Stanley (D-Medway), Rep. Maureen Terry (D-Gorham), and Rep. Kristen Cloutier (D-Lewiston) all voted in favor of the bill as amended. Sen. Matthew Pouliot (R-Kennebec), Rep. Bruce A. Bickford (R-Auburn), Rep. Donald G. Marean (R-Hollis), and Rep. Theodore Joseph Kryzak Jr. (R-Acton) voted ought-not-to-pass.

​On Tuesday, February 18, Major General Douglas Farnham used his annual state of the National Guard speech to lawmakers to praise past and current members of the Guard and its predecessor, the Maine Militia. Farnham spoke highly of several current Guard members who have contributed to the state and nation, including Master Sergeant Rick Martell of the Air Guard, who volunteered past his 60th birthday to continue to serve on air refueling tankers. Farnham pointed out that Joshua Chamberlain was not only a civil war hero but also led the Maine militia to respond to state problems. Also of note, 11 percent of Mainers have served in the military, one of the highest percentages in the nation. 

​Governor Janet Mills announced this week that Maine, along with Massachusetts and Rhode Island, is spearheading an effort to phase down the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a potent greenhouse gas and a driver of climate change. These synthetic gases are most often used as a refrigerant in appliances and are known as “climate super-pollutants,” with hundreds to thousands of times the heat-trapping power of carbon dioxide. Governor Mills submitted legislation that directs the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to limit the use HFCs where safer alternatives are available. Massachusetts and Rhode Island announced their intention to begin rulemaking to accomplish the same.

Chamber opposes department bill that proposes new tax
 
On Tuesday, February 11, the Joint Standing Committee on Taxation tabled LD 2011, An Act to Update Certain Provisions in the Income Tax and Service Provider Tax Laws, a department bill sponsored by Rep. Ryan Tipping (D-Orono). Linda Caprara testified on behalf of the Maine State Chamber in opposition to the bill the week before because it would impose a new tax on users of streaming services transferred for less than permanent use.